Composite container with integrated easy-open feature

Abstract

A composite container for refrigerated dough products comprises a body ply helically wrapped about an axis to form a tubular body, opposite edges of the helically wrapped body ply being juxtaposed to form a butt joint therebetween. A label is helically wrapped about and adhered to the tubular body, the label comprising an inner layer adhered to the outer surface of the tubular body and an outer layer adhered to a radially outer surface of the inner layer. The inner layer defines a helically extending line of weakness positioned in alignment with the butt joint of the body ply. The outer layer comprises a removable peel strip that is peelable from the inner layer, the peel strip extending helically along the tubular body straddling the line of weakness and butt joint.

1. A composite container for refrigerated dough products, comprising:
 a body ply helically wrapped about an axis to form a tubular body, opposite edges of the helically wrapped body ply being juxtaposed to form a butt joint therebetween, the tubular body having a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface; 
 a liner attached to the inner surface of the tubular body; 
 a pair of end closures respectively affixed to opposite ends of the tubular body; and 
 a label having opposite longitudinal edges and being helically wrapped about the tubular body and adhered to the outer surface thereof, the label comprising an inner layer adhered by an intervening adhesive layer to the outer surface of the tubular body, and an outer layer adhered to a radially outer surface of the inner layer, the inner layer defining a helically extending line of weakness positioned in alignment with the butt joint of the body ply, the line of weakness being intermediate and spaced from the longitudinal edges of the label and extending at least partially through the thickness of the inner layer, the outer layer being coextensive with the inner layer and comprising a removable peel strip that is peelable from the inner layer, the peel strip extending helically along the tubular body straddling the line of weakness and butt joint, the peel strip being peelably adhered to the inner layer so as to prevent the line of weakness from severing until the peel strip is peeled from the inner layer, whereupon internal pressure from expansion of the refrigerated dough products is able to assist in severing the line of weakness in the inner layer and forcing the butt joint open to create an opening in the tubular body for removal of the dough products. 
 
     
     
       2. The composite container of  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer of the label is cut to define the peel strip as narrower than the outer layer, such that the peel strip is detachable from a remainder of the outer layer, whereby the remainder of the outer layer remains adhered to the inner layer when the peel strip is removed. 
     
     
       3. The composite container of  claim 2 , wherein the outer layer is cut to define a tab for the peel strip. 
     
     
       4. The composite container of  claim 2 , wherein a first adhesive is disposed between the peel strip and the inner layer for peelably adhering the peel strip to the inner layer, and a second adhesive different from the first adhesive is used to adhere the remainder of the outer layer to the inner layer. 
     
     
       5. The composite container of  claim 4 , wherein the first adhesive comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive or high shear-strength adhesive. 
     
     
       6. The composite container of  claim 5 , wherein the second adhesive comprises a laminating adhesive. 
     
     
       7. The composite container of  claim 4 , wherein the outer layer is cut to define a tab for the peel strip, and wherein the tab is free of adhesive such that the tab is unadhered to the inner layer. 
     
     
       8. The composite container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner layer comprises a polymer film. 
     
     
       9. The composite container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner layer comprises a laminate of a polymer film and a paper backing, the paper backing being adhered to the outer surface of the tubular body. 
     
     
       10. The composite container of  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer comprises a polymer film. 
     
     
       11. A label for a composite container for refrigerated dough products, the container being formed of a body ply helically wrapped about an axis to form a tubular body having an inner surface and an outer surface, opposite edges of the body ply being juxtaposed to form a butt joint therebetween, the label having opposite longitudinal edges, the label comprising:
 an inner layer structured and arranged to be adhered to the outer surface of the tubular body, and an outer layer adhered to one surface of the inner layer, the inner layer defining a longitudinally extending line of weakness such that when the label is helically wrapped about the tubular body of the container the line of weakness is positioned in alignment with the butt joint of the body ply, the line of weakness being intermediate and spaced from the longitudinal edges of the label and extending at least partially through the thickness of the inner layer, the outer layer being coextensive with the inner layer and comprising a removable peel strip that is peelable from the inner layer, the peel strip straddling the line of weakness in the inner layer, the peel strip being peelably adhered to the inner layer so as to prevent the line of weakness from severing until the peel strip is peeled from the inner layer, whereupon internal pressure from expansion of the refrigerated dough products is able to assist in severing the line of weakness in the inner layer and forcing the butt joint open to create an opening in the tubular body for removal of the dough products. 
 
     
     
       12. The label of  claim 11 , wherein the outer layer of the label is cut to define the peel strip as narrower than the outer layer, such that the peel strip is detachable from a remainder of the outer layer, whereby the remainder of the outer layer remains adhered to the inner layer when the peel strip is removed. 
     
     
       13. The label of  claim 12 , wherein the outer layer is cut to define a tab for the peel strip. 
     
     
       14. The label of  claim 12 , wherein a first adhesive is disposed between the peel strip and the inner layer for peelably adhering the peel strip to the inner layer, and a second adhesive different from the first adhesive is used to adhere the remainder of the outer layer to the inner layer. 
     
     
       15. The label of  claim 14 , wherein the first adhesive comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
       16. The label of  claim 15 , wherein the second adhesive comprises a laminating adhesive. 
     
     
       17. The label of  claim 14 , wherein the outer layer is cut to define a tab for the peel strip, and wherein the tab is free of adhesive such that the tab is unadhered to the inner layer. 
     
     
       18. The label of  claim 11 , wherein the inner layer comprises a polymer film. 
     
     
       19. The label of  claim 11 , wherein the inner layer comprises a laminate of a polymer film and a paper backing, the paper backing serving to facilitate adhering the label to the outer surface of the tubular body. 
     
     
       20. The label of  claim 11 , wherein the outer layer comprises a polymer film.